Sleeve stretcher



Nov. 22, 1949 L w, BUTCHER 2,488,617

SLEEVE STRETCHER Filed Dec. 2, 1947 207/ INVENTOR.

L YN/V W. BUTCHER Attorneys Patented Nov. 22, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a sleeve stretching means for use in smoothingout a sleeve during the ironing thereof. 7

An object of this invention is to provide a sleeve stretcher which isinsertable in a sleeve for smoothly stretching the sleeve so as topermit the ironing of the sleeve and elimination of wrinkles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich includes a pair of divergent spring members connected at theirouter convergent ends to a U-shaped handle which is also formed ofresilient material so that when the device is inserted within a sleevethe device will spring outwardly and smoothly stretch the sleeve so thatthe latter may be ironed between the resilient arms and wrinkleseliminated.

Another object of-this invention is to provide a device of this kindwhich is of simple construction and formed out of resilient materialsuch as spring wire or the like, which will occupy only a very smallspace within the sleeve thereby permitting the ironing of the sleevebetween the resilient arms.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a detailed side elevation of a device constructed accordingto an embodiment of this invention, mounted in a sleeve,

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation partly broken away of the device,and

Figure 3 is an edge view of the device.

Referring to the drawings, the numerals I and I I designate a pair ofdivergent, resilient arms which are formed of wire and are provided attheir inner ends with reverted bends I2 and I3.

The outer end portions of the arms I0 and II include obtusely bentintermediate portions I4 and I5 respectively, which are adapted toengage that portion of a sleeve Sadjacent the cuff C. The obtuseextensions l4 and I5 merge with parallel extensions Ni and I1respectively, which are adapted to engage within the cull C and theparallel extensions I6 and I1 merge with obtusely bent extensions I8 andI9 respectively.

The obtuse extensions I8 and I9 are secured to or formed integral with aU-shaped handle 20 which, as shown in Figure 3, is formed of fiat springmaterial.

The wire from which the arms In and II with the extensions I4, I5, l6,l1, I8 and I9 are formed, is constructed out of resilient material suchas spring wire or the like which is properly tempered so that the wirewill retain its normal shape during the insertion of the device withinthe sleeve and the straight arms I0 and II will be maintainedsubstantially straight when'in inserted position.

In the use of this device, the handle 20 is compressed so as to swingthe arms I0 and I I toward each other and these arms are then insertedthrough the end C into the sleeve S. When the cufi C engages over thecufi stretching or smoothing arms I 6 and H, the handle 20 may bereleased so that the spring arms II] and II may spring away from eachother so as to thereby stretch the sleeve S therebetween.

The sleeve may then be ironed between the arms, and if it is desired toform tight creases after the main body of the sleeve has been ironed,the stretcher or smoothing member may be removed and the edges of thesleeve ironed without the device therein.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

A sleeve stretcher for use in ironing a shirt sleeve, comprising a pairof elongated wire spring arms disposed in inwardly divergent relation,outwardly converging obtuse extensions extend:- ing from the forward orouter ends of said arms, parallel extensions extending from the forwardends of said obtuse extensions, said outwardly converging obtuseextensions extending from the outer ends of said parallel extensions anda U- shaped resilient handle formed integral with and extending from theouter ends of said latter named obtuse extensions, said divergent armsbeing engageable within the body of a sleeve for stretching the sleevetherebetween and said parallel extensions being engageable within thecuff to thereby smooth the cull".

LYNN W. BUTCHER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

